CVE-2014-4809 in Security Access Manager For Web 8.0
Summary
by MITRE
The WebSEAL component in IBM Security Access Manager for Web 7.x before 7.0.0-ISS-WGA-IF0009 and 8.x before 8.0.0-ISS-WGA-FP0005, when e-community SSO is enabled, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (component hang) via unspecified vectors.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/20/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4809 affects IBM Security Access Manager for Web components, specifically the WebSEAL module, which serves as a critical web access gateway and single sign-on solution. This weakness manifests in versions 7.x prior to 7.0.0-ISS-WGA-IF0009 and 8.x prior to 8.0.0-ISS-WGA-FP0005, where the system becomes susceptible to denial of service attacks when e-community SSO functionality is enabled. The vulnerability represents a significant security concern as it can lead to complete service disruption and system unavailability for legitimate users.
The technical flaw lies within the WebSEAL component's handling of specific requests when e-community SSO is active, creating a condition where the system enters a state of component hang or deadlock. This occurs through unspecified attack vectors that likely involve crafted requests or session management interactions that cause the WebSEAL process to become unresponsive. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where continuous availability is critical. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption, as the system consumes resources without proper bounds checking or recovery mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service interruption, as it can lead to cascading failures within the access management infrastructure. When the WebSEAL component hangs, it affects all users attempting to access protected resources through the IBM Security Access Manager, potentially disrupting business operations and user productivity. Organizations relying on this system for enterprise access control face significant risk of service degradation, particularly in environments where the component serves as a primary gateway for web applications and services. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to perform sustained denial of service attacks that can be difficult to distinguish from legitimate system issues.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize applying the vendor-provided patches and fixes, specifically the interim fixes and full releases mentioned in the vulnerability description. Organizations should also implement network-level monitoring to detect unusual patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, such as repeated connection failures or abnormal resource consumption. Security teams should consider implementing rate limiting and connection throttling mechanisms to reduce the impact of potential attacks. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1499.004: Endpoint Denial of Service, with techniques involving resource exhaustion and system instability. Additionally, implementing redundant access management components and maintaining robust backup and recovery procedures can help mitigate the impact of such attacks, ensuring business continuity even when individual components are compromised.